A study of the dynamics of a discrete auroral arc

High resolution electric field and particle data, obtained by the S23L1 rocket crossing over a discrete prebreakup arc in January 1979, are studied in coordination with ground observations (Scandinavian Magnetometer Array—SMA, TV and all-sky cameras) in order to clarify the electrodynamics of the arc and its surroundings. Height-integrated conductivities have been calculated from the particle data, including the ionization effects of precipitating protons and assuming a steady state balance between ion production and recombination losses. High resolution optical information of arc location relative to the rocket permitted a check of the validity of this assumption for each flux tube passed by the rocket. Another check was provided by a comparison between calculated (equilibrium values) and observed electron densities along the rocket trajectory. A way to compensate for the finite precipitation time when calculating the electron densities is outlined. The height-integrated HalI-Pedersen conductivity ratio is typically 1.4 within the arc and about 1 at the arc edges, indicative of a relatively softer energy spectrum there. The height-integrated conductivities combined with the DC electric field measurements permitted calculation of the horizontal ionospheric current vectors (J_⊥), Birkeland currents (from div J_⊥) and energy dissipation through Joule heating (Σ_pE²). An eastward current of typically 1 A m^?1 was found to be concentrated mainly to the arc region and equatorward of it. A comparison has been made with the equivalent current system deduced from ground based magnetometer data (SMA) showing a generally good agreement with the rocket results. An intense Pedersen current peak (1.2 A m^?1) was found at the southern arc edge. This edge constituted a division line between a very intense (> 10 μA m^?1) and localized (~ 6 km) downward current sheet to the south, probably carried by upward flowing cold ionospheric electrons and a more extended upward current sheet (> 10 μA m^?2) over the arc carried by measured precipitating electrons. Joule and particle heating across the arc were anticorrelated, consistent with the findings of Evans et al. (1977) with a total value of about 100mW m^?2.     

Arm and Interarm Star Formation in Spiral Galaxies

We present an outline of our study of the effects of star formation on the different components of the interstellar medium in the discs of spiral galaxies, both globally and as a function of arm and interarm environment. We are in the process of obtaining images of 57 spiral galaxies at low inclinations, and analysing them to study the distribution of recent massive star formation, old stars, young stars, gas and dust. We will dissect the images into arm and interarm regions and compare and contrast the morphology and scale lengths within these regions inH_α, HI, the near infrared, optical and (where available) CO. Modelling will show how the scale lengths are affected by star formation, how this differs between arms and interarms, and whether the Schmidt Law varies from the global values in the arm and interarm regions. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Shock waves in ultra-relativistic degenerate astrophysical e-p-i plasmas

Astrophysics and Space Science - In 1913 Henry N. Russell revealed to the astronomical community a diagram that would revolutionize stellar astronomy. He had plotted the absolute magnitude of field...     

Catalog of X-Ray Active Galactic Nuclei Based on ROSAT BSC and FSC Sources

Astrophysics - A general catalog of active galactic nuclei (AGN) has been created from identified optical sources of X-ray data from the Hamburg-ROSAT Catalog (HRC) and the Byurakan-Hamburg ROSAT...     

Convective instability in a compressible atmosphere

The degree of convective instability as expressed by the growth rate of linear modes, is calculated for a plane parallel polytropic atmosphere in the presence of radiative damping, without using Boussinesq approximation. A comparison with the results based on the Boussinesq approximation reveals that the use of the Boussinesq approximation leads to an overestimation of the radiative damping. The computation of as a function of the horizontal wave number yields a wavelength of maximal instability under a variety of conditions. For reasonable choices of physical parameters appropriate to the solar atmosphere, the fastest growing wavelengths turn out to be in the range 600–1200 km, and their e-folding times are in the range 200–2000 s.NAS-NRC Senior Research Associate on leave of absence from the Tate Institute of Fundamental Research, Bombay.     

Planetary brightness temperature measurements at 8.6 mm and 3.1 mm wavelengths

New measurements of the Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn at 3.1 and 8.6 mm wavelengths are given. The temperatures reported for the planets at 3.1 mm wavelength are higher than previous measurements in this wavelength range and change the interpretation of some planetary spectra. For Mercury, it is found that the mean brightness temperature is independent of wavelength and that a temperature dependent thermal conductivity is not required to match the observations. In the case of Mars, the spectrum is shown to rise in the millimeter region as simple models predict. For Jupiter, the need to recalculate the spectrum with recent models is demonstrated. The flux density scale proposed by Dent (1972) has been revised according to a more accurate determination of the millimeter brightness temperature of Jupiter.     

The magnetic field in the Earth's tail

Detailed magnetic fields in the Earth's tail are calculated from a proposed model containing Beard's tail surface and a current sheet inferred from satellite observations. The component inside and perpendicular to the neutral sheet permits us to construct the drift pattern in the magnetic equatorial plane for charged particles. The computed results are in reasonable agreement with the experimental results, although some deviations are noted.     

Upper atmospheric temperatures from Doppler line widths—V. Auroral electron energy spectra and fluxes deduced from the 5577 and 6300 Å atomic oxygen emissions

This is a report upon further data obtained from the auroral OI 5577 Å emission with a Wide Angle Michelson Interferometer (WAMI), and upon our first observations made with it on the 6300 Å emission. The method used for converting emission intensities and temperatures to auroral electron fluxes and energy spectra is described. Data for the 5577 Å emission are presented for the (lack of) heating in auroral forms, vertical temperature profiles in aurora, electron flux and energy spectrum variations in pulsating aurora, and a ‘cold’ subvisual auroral arc. Data from the OI 6300 Å emission are presented for the diurnal variation of exospheric temperature and for the thermalization of $\text{O}\text{(}{}^1\text{D)}$ in the F-region.     

Electron depletion in the wake of ionospheric spacecraft—A comparison between results from Langmuir probes and antennas

In situ observations of the electron depletion in the wakes of satellites and rockets in the ionosphere using Langmuir type probes and antennas are analyzed and compared. The quantitative degree of agreement between the results is demonstrated and discussed. One consequence is an improved interpretation of results previously presented for the OGO II Satellite wake.     

THE CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF KAINSAZ AND EFREMOVKA

The type III carbonaceous chondrites Kainsaz and Efremovka have been analysed for eighteen major, minor and trace elements by X-ray fluorescence spectrometry. A comparison of the data on Kainsaz with four other Ornans sub-type carbonaceous chondrites reveals a remarkable degree of constancy of composition. Efremovka, together with Leoville and Coolidge, may be distinguished from the other Vigarano sub-type carbonaceous chondrites by their lower Na and K contents, variable Na/K ratios and relatively low Ca/Al ratios. Some observations are made on the ratio Na/K in various types of stony meteorite; the magnitude of the ratio in the basaltic achondrites appears to be more similar to that in the carbonaceous chondrites than in the ordinary chondrites.